“Different rules for different players”, the tennis world reacts to the doping case involving Jannik Sinner

Many players on the circuit and personalities from the world of tennis were quick to react following the revelations implicating the world number one in a doping affair on Tuesday.

“Maybe we should stop taking us for fools, no…?” The indignation is signed by the former French world number 10 Lucas Pouille on social networks. A few hours earlier, a press release from the International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) revealed positive tests of the Italian player Jannik Sinner for clostebol, a synthetic anabolic steroid derived from testosterone during the last Masters 1000 in Indian Wells. If the latter was exonerated by an independent tribunal, many players on the circuit wanted to express their astonishment for some, anger for others.

Canadian player, ranked 105th in the world, Denis Shapovalov, for his part, published two tweets in quick succession. “I can’t imagine what all the other players who have been banned for substances are feeling right now.“, he began, before pointing out in a second publication: “Different rules for different players.”

Former world number 13 and Wimbledon finalist in 2022, Nick Kyrgios, has cast doubt on the word of the world number one, who denies any intention of doping, and who advocates involuntary contamination. “Ridiculous – whether accidental or planned. You get tested twice with a banned substance (steroid)… you should be out for two years. Your performance has been enhanced. A massage cream…. Yeah nice,” he reacted. The Australian even continued the conversation in the comments by once again questioning the Italian’s version. “Accidental? Do you really think the physiotherapist applied cream to a cut that caused him to fail two anabolic steroid tests?” he wrote again.

Petar Popovic, Corentin Moutet’s current coach, is calling on world authorities to address this doping case. “Hey ATP, WTA and ITF, all we ask (players, coaches) is equality and transparency. No more, no less,” he posted on X. The question of fairness is also raised by Tara Moore.

The British player had tested positive for metabolites of nandrolone, an anabolic steroid (as in the Jannik Sinner case), in April 2022 and was suspended for 18 months before being cleared by an independent tribunal more than a year later. “I guess only the images of the best players count. I guess only the opinion of the independent tribunal on the best players is considered solid and fair. Yet they question them in my case. It makes no sense,” she also writes about X.

Anger and resentment shared by Benjamin Lock, a Zimbabwean player ranked 393rd in the world. “The rules are different for different players. Money talks. If you want an institution to lose respect and credibility overnight, this is the way to do it. I feel for all the players whose careers and reputations have been destroyed because ‘rules’ were applied. A ‘clean’ sport? Well done,” he argues. While the world number one has been cleared by an independent tribunal, the case is not over yet. The World Anti-Doping Agency can still appeal and take up the case.